TDA-01: Technology Development & Acquisition Policy
Mechanisms exist to establish a formal, documented technology development and acquisition policy that: (1) Conveys executive management's intent; (2) Provides organizational direction and expected behaviors; (3) Is reviewed at least annually; and (4) Is updated, as necessary, to adapt to evolving risks, threats and other changes that affect the organization.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, TDA-01 was Technology Development & Acquisition. That control is now TDA-02.
Control Question: Does the organization establish a formal, documented technology development and acquisition policy that: (1) Conveys executive management's intent; (2) Provides organizational direction and expected behaviors; (3) Is reviewed at least annually; and (4) Is updated, as necessary, to adapt to evolving risks, threats and other changes that affect the organization?
General (20)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| GovRAMP | SA-01 |
| GovRAMP Low | SA-01 |
| GovRAMP Low+ | SA-01 |
| GovRAMP Moderate | SA-01 |
| GovRAMP High | SA-01 |
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | SA-01 |
| NIST 800-53B R5 (low) (source) | SA-01 |
| NIST 800-53B R5 (moderate) (source) | SA-01 |
| NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) | SA-01 |
| NIST 800-53B R5 (privacy) (source) | SA-01 |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | SA-01 |
| NIST 800-82 R3 LOW OT Overlay | SA-01 |
| NIST 800-82 R3 MODERATE OT Overlay | SA-01 |
| NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay | SA-01 |
| NIST 800-161 R1 | SA-1 |
| NIST 800-161 R1 C-SCRM Baseline | SA-1 |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Level 1 | SA-1 |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Level 2 | SA-1 |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Level 3 | SA-1 |
| NIST 800-171 R2 (source) | NFO - SA-1 |
US (10)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal CMS MARS-E 2.0 | SA-1.a |
| USA Federal CJIS Security Policy 6.0 | SA-1 |
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (low) | SA-01 |
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (moderate) | SA-01 |
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (high) | SA-01 |
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (LI-SaaS) | SA-01 |
| USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 | 4.17 |
| USA Texas DIR SCSC 2.2 2025 | SA SA-01 |
| USA Texas TX-RAMP Level 1 | SA-01 |
| USA Texas TX-RAMP Level 2 | SA-01 |
EMEA (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 | Article 16.1 |
| EMEA LUX CCSF 20/750 2020 | 3.6.2-67 |
Capability Maturity Model
Level 0 — Not Performed
Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.
Level 1 — Performed Informally
SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.
Level 2 — Planned & Tracked
Technology Development & Acquisition (TDA) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with TDA domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with TDA domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with TDA domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Technology development and acquisition-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Technology development and acquisition management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ Secure development practices mostly conform to industry-recognized standards for secure engineering of Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) (e.g., OWASP, NIST SP 800-218 and NIST SP 800-160).
Level 3 — Well Defined
Technology Development & Acquisition (TDA) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with TDA domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with TDA domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A software development team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain TDA domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of technology development and acquisition management (e.g., project management software, software escrow solution and software testing tools). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with TDA domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls).
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Level 5 — Continuously Improving
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Assessment Objectives
- TDA-01_A01 a formal, documented technology development and acquisition policy is approved by executive management, or a formally delegated authority, and conveys executive management's intent for technology development and acquisition.
- TDA-01_A02 the technology development and acquisition policy provides organizational direction and states the behaviors expected of personnel and other applicable parties with respect to technology development and acquisition.
- TDA-01_A03 the current version of the technology development and acquisition policy is communicated to, and accessible by, the personnel and other applicable parties who are expected to comply with it.
- TDA-01_A04 the technology development and acquisition policy is reviewed at least annually.
- TDA-01_A05 the technology development and acquisition policy is updated, as necessary, in response to changes in risks, threats, business practices and/or statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations that affect the organization.
Evidence Requirements
- E-GOV-01.30 Technology Development & Acquisition Policy
-
Documented evidence of a technology development and acquisition policy.
Security, Compliance & Resilience Governance
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- ComplianceForge - Security, Compliance & Resilience Program (SCRP) (https://complianceforge.com)
- Executive-approved written policy with documented annual review
Small
- ComplianceForge - Security, Compliance & Resilience Program (SCRP) (https://complianceforge.com)
- Executive-approved written policy with documented annual review
- Policy acknowledgement tracking (e.g., HR onboarding records)
Medium
- ComplianceForge - Security, Compliance & Resilience Program (SCRP) (https://complianceforge.com)
- GRC solution (e.g., SCFConnect, Cyturus, SureCloud, SimpleRisk, Ignyte, ZenGRC, Galvanize, MetricStream, Archer, etc.) for policy lifecycle management
- Documented annual policy review with version control
Large
- ComplianceForge - Security, Compliance & Resilience Program (SCRP) (https://complianceforge.com)
- GRC solution (e.g., SCFConnect, Cyturus, SureCloud, SimpleRisk, Ignyte, ZenGRC, Galvanize, MetricStream, Archer, etc.) for policy lifecycle management
- Policy governance committee with formal annual review and approval workflow
- Automated policy attestation and acknowledgement tracking
Enterprise
- Steering committee
- ComplianceForge - Security, Compliance & Resilience Program (SCRP) (https://complianceforge.com)
- Enterprise GRC platform (e.g., Cyturus, Archer, MetricStream, ServiceNow IRM) for policy lifecycle management
- Automated policy attestation, exception tracking and change history
- Annual executive approval and board-level reporting